Their names aren't on the ballot, but they make critical decisions over how to spend taxpayer dollars.
Oftentimes, citizens don't know who they are, what they do, what board, commission or authority they serve on or who appointed them.
State Rep. Bob Merski, D-2nd Dist., Erie, hopes to change that with a bill that he's calling "common sense" and which has already garnered bipartisan support.
H.B. 647 would require all political subdivisions to maintain a publicly accessible website that includes the name of each member of a board, commission, authority or other body; the length and expiration date of each member's term; an email address to contact each member; the name and office of the person who appointed them.